Engineering of Small-Molecule Gels Based on the Thermodynamics and Kinetics of Fiber Formation - Soft Fibrillar Materials: Fabrication and Applications - page 102

(a) (b)

(d)

(c)

(e)

T1 T2 T3

Normal
processing

Stimuli
(heat/ultrasound)

Seeding

T4 T5

Figure 2.11 Conversion of a multi-domain
fiber network to a single fiber network
through thermal processing (a,b) and
ultrasound-assisted fiber network formation
(c,d). (e) Schematic description of the for-
mation of GP-1 spherulites through the nor-
mal thermal processing and the formation
of an interconnecting fiber network through
a seeded process with either thermal or me-
chanical (i.e., ultrasonic) stimuli. For thermal
processing, T c > T 4 > T 2 > T 3 to ensure the
introduction of micro-segments of GP-fiber

which serve as seeds for the growth of the
interconnecting fiber network. T c is defined
as the critical temperature, above which the
gelator is totally dissolved. For ultrasound
treatment, T 5 < T 4 = T 2 . Seeds are formed
by mechanically breaking down the small
spherulites into fiber segments. (a) and
(b) are reprinted with permission from Ref.
[35], Copyright © 2006, American Chemical
Society; (c) and (d) are reprinted with per-
mission from Ref. [36], Copyright

© 2009,

American Chemical Society.